20 Weeks in Which the Budget Held Sway
The 82nd Texas Legislature’s regular session ends as it started, with lawmakers arguing about a shrunken state budget and redistricting. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/20110524-_CBM4523-Edit.jpg)
-
![The Texas Capitol in the twilight of the 82nd legislative session.]()
Credit: Caleb Bryant Miller -
Perry: Special Session on Congressional Maps Possible
Gov. Rick Perry opened the door to a special session on congressional redistricting — but only if leaders agree to a map in advance. Full Story
Credit: Bob Daemmrich -
Updated: Perry Flirting With White House Run
Texas Gov. Rick Perry, in his boldest statement yet about a possible run for national office, said Friday he will think about launching a campaign for president in coming days. "I'm going to think about it," Perry said. He quickly added, "I think about a lot of things." Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/Perry2CMS.jpg)
![Gov. Rick Perry ceremonially signs the Voter ID on May 27, 2011.]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera -
Conservative "Outsiders" Have Inside Track in Legislative Session
His nickname around the Texas Capitol is "mucus." It’s a play on Michael Quinn Sullivan’s initials — MQS — but the moniker underscores how much of an irritant the conservative activist has become to politicians who dare buck his Tea Party orthodoxy. It also says something about his staying power. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/TxTrib-MQS-007.JPG)
![Michael Quinn Sullivan]()
Credit: Caleb Bryant Miller -
AUDIO: Crownover, Taylor and Williams at TribLive
At this morning's TribLive conversation, I interviewed three veteran lawmakers — state Rep. Myra Crownover, R-Lake Dallas, state Rep. Larry Taylor, R-Friendswood, and state Sen. Tommy Williams, R-The Woodlands — about how they and their Republican colleagues fared this session. Full Story
Credit: Bob Daemmrich -
Video: Crownover, Taylor and Williams at TribLive
At this morning's TribLive conversation, I interviewed three veteran lawmakers — state Rep. Myra Crownover, R-Lake Dallas, state Rep. Larry Taylor, R-Friendswood, and state Sen. Tommy Williams, R-The Woodlands — about how they and their Republican colleagues fared this session. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/videos/Republicans7.JPG)
![Article thumbnail]()
-
Race, Politics Not Always Linked, UT/TT Poll Finds
Texans think it's more important to elect people who think like them than to elect people who look like them, and a small plurality believes redistricting should be turned over to an independent panel, according to the latest University of Texas/Texas Tribune poll. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/Polling_Thursday.039.png)
![Article thumbnail]()
Credit: Graphic by Todd Wiseman / Ben Hasson -
A&M Regents Chairman Asks Faculty for "Patience and Trust"
On the eve of an important meeting of the Texas A&M University System Board of Regents, chairman Richard Box issued a systemwide, tone-setting memo. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/Box.jpg)
![Article thumbnail]()
Credit: Illustration by Todd Wiseman -
Chairman of A&M Regents Responds to Faculty Concerns
Last week, Texas A&M University System Board of Regents chairman Richard Box received a letter from five Texas A&M University professors concerned about his intended direction for the system. Today, he responded, saying, "We are all in this together." Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/AnM_Tower_AggieLand.jpg)
![Texas A&M University]()
Credit: Todd Wiseman/The Texas Tribune -
Powell, Powers Attack Productivity Analysis of UT-Austin
UT President Bill Powers and Regents Chairman Gene Powell slammed a controversial study that found that if some UT-Austin professors were more productive, tuition could be cut by as much as half. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/UTTownHall_JM.jpg)
![Bill Powers speaks about budget cuts at The University of Texas on Tuesday, February 2nd.]()
Credit: Jacqueline Mermea -
Presidential Front-Runner in Texas? Not Perry, UT/TT Poll Finds
It's a good thing Rick Perry says he's not running for president — only 4 percent of Texas Republicans say they'd vote for the governor, according to the latest University of Texas/Texas Tribune poll. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/RepPresPref_3.029.png)
![Article thumbnail]()
Credit: Graphic by Todd Wiseman -
No Clear Signals on Budget, UT/TT Poll Finds
Voters still want lawmakers to cut the budget, but they still oppose the major cuts in education and health and human services that cutting the budget requires, according to the latest University of Texas/Texas Tribune Poll. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/RainyDayFundSpend.032.png)
![Article thumbnail]()
Credit: Graphic by Todd Wiseman -
A Meandering Route to a Congressional Redistricting Map
When it comes to congressional redistricting in Texas, inaction is louder than words. Full Story
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune -
Old Grudges, Rivalries Bedevil Higher Education Debate
As the debate over the future of Texas’ higher education continues to swirl, it's increasingly intertwined in old political rivalries and long-held grudges and resentments. Full Story
Credit: Bob Daemmrich -
Rick Perry's Un-Campaign for President
Gov. Rick Perry is in a great position in the race for president. His name is in the conversation. He’s in place if there’s a draft, but not at risk of an embarrassing loss. How can you lose a race you’re not running? Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/gaggle006CMS.jpg)
![Gov. Rick Perry (c) speaks with reporters outside the Senate Chamber on May 5, 2011.]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera -
With Clock Ticking, Congressional Redistricting Set to Begin
The legislative session ends in less than two weeks, and lawmakers won't take up a bill to redraw the state's congressional districts until later this week. Ben Philpott of KUT News and the Tribune reports on how the delay could affect how the new lines are drawn. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/Redistricting_Map_Tweasers.jpg)
![Article thumbnail]()
Credit: Illustration by Todd Wiseman -
Budget Writers Agree to First Texas Prison Closure
Lawmakers working on a final version of the state's two-year budget have agreed to close down a Texas prison for the first time in the state's history, according to a report from the Texas Public Policy Foundation. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/prisoners_CM.jpg)
![Article thumbnail]()
Credit: Caleb Bryant Miller -
Guest Column: My Lege in a Box
Call it the Justin Timberlake Treatment: The Legislature has found itself boxed in as it searches for a way out of the budget divide. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/BudgetBox_1.png)
![Article thumbnail]()
Credit: Illustration by Jacob Villanueva -
On the Records: Fundraising Outside Texas
Candidates in next year’s U.S. House and Senate elections in Texas raised more than $5 million in the first quarter from individuals. Most live in Texas. But a significant portion came from outside the Lone Star State, according to the Federal Election Commission. California led the way, followed by Virginia, Washington, D.C. and New York. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/fec-contribs-us.png)
![Congressional Fundraising By Zip Code Prefix: 1st Quarter 2011]()
Credit: Graphic by Matt Stiles -
UT Regents Unanimously Support Chancellor's Vision
At a meeting of the University of Texas System Board of Regents in Austin Thursday, UT System Chancellor Francisco Cigarroa won unanimous support after laying out his “framework for advancing excellence throughout the university system.” Full Story
Credit: Bob Daemmrich
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/ae979727c1b73447c63d7d82f2973d46/BD%20INC%20Perry%20Presser%2001%202011)
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/f423fffa4d96c4b834980b4853641004/TT%20Event%20Crownover%20Taylor%20Williams%2007%202011)
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/2bf9f0df85a6287cbff6ba32b54e4b60/BD%20INC%20Brady%2001%202011)
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/27361caa0f5a08cc74cd5288ed0b990f/DO%20NOT%20USE%20Bailey%20Perry%2001%202009)
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/b952902aa65c77c18b6bc80491c34bd7/BD%20INC%20Cigarroa%202011)